The AJ stage report has arrived, featuring luxury voice actors Yuki Kaji, Hiro Shimono, and others discussing the series' appeal! Anime "MAO" Episode 1 synopsis and advance cuts released.

The synopsis and scene cuts for Episode 1 of the anime "MAO," set to begin broadcasting on April 4th, have arrived. Additionally, the official report for the "AnimeJapan 2026" stage held on March 28th has been released.

The original work is "MAO," the latest series by Rumiko Takahashi, whose total worldwide circulation of tankobon volumes has exceeded 200 million copies. Serialized in "Weekly Shonen Sunday" (Shogakukan) since 2019, this work is a story that fuses immersive dark fantasy with a time-slip mystery.

Mao (CV: Yuki Kaji), a mysterious Onmyoji who has lived for 900 years, and Nanoka Kiba (CV: Natsumi Kawaida), a junior high school student who strayed from the Reiwa era into the Taisho era. The two, who have been placed under the same "curse," face their interlocking destinies. Animation production is handled by Sunrise, who worked on the "Inuyasha" series based on Takahashi's original work. It will be broadcast every Saturday at 23:45 for two consecutive cours starting April 4th.

"Rumiko Takahashi's Latest Work! TV Anime 'MAO' Pre-Broadcast Opening Ceremony" Official Report

On March 28th, the "Rumiko Takahashi's Latest Work! TV Anime 'MAO' Pre-Broadcast Opening Ceremony" was held at the BLUE STAGE of "AnimeJapan 2026" at Tokyo Big Sight. On stage, Mao's VA Yuki Kaji, Nanoka Kiba's VA Natsumi Kawaida, Hyakka's VA Hiro Shimono, Kamon's VA Toshiyuki Toyonaga, and Otoya's VA Momoka Terasawa appeared. With a full house and many standing spectators, the five engaged in a well-synchronized talk about the charm of the TV anime "MAO," which awaits its first episode broadcast on Saturday, April 4th.

The stage began with an opening declaration from Otoya: "Today, with only one week left until the TV anime 'MAO' begins broadcasting, I hereby declare the opening of 'Rumiko Takahashi's Latest Work! TV Anime 'MAO' Pre-Broadcast Opening Ceremony'!" The appearing cast then performed character lines as they made their entrance.

The five, dressed in outfits incorporating their respective characters' image colors, first introduced themselves to the fans. The cast's energy was already at its peak, with Shimono shouting during his greeting and Toyonaga drawing laughs from the audience by calling out, "Everyone, welcome to the world of 'MAO', hey Kamon (come on)!" Following this, the first segment, "The Ritual of Series Introduction," began under Terasawa's facilitation, accompanied by a one-of-a-kind Otoya plushie.

After Kawaida introduced the synopsis of Episode 1, everyone delved into the relationships between characters while looking at a correlation chart projected on the screen. Kaji introduced his character, Mao: "An Onmyoji who has lived for 900 years, originally a person from the Heian period. Due to a fate involving the cat demon 'Byoki' who manipulates lifespans, he gained an immortal body and now lives in the Taisho era. The story begins when he meets Nanoka, who has slipped through time."

Kawaida brightly explained Nanoka: "A third-year junior high school girl living in modern-day Reiwa. She was in an accident as a child and had an experience where she 'died (?)' once, but she seems fine now." She continued with humor, "When she passes through the gate at the accident site, she slips back to the Taisho era. There, she meets Mao and is told something rather tactless like, 'You're an Ayakashi, aren't you?'" piquing fans' expectations for how the relationship between Mao and Nanoka will change.

Terasawa stated, "Otoya is a Shikigami working under Mao. Therefore, he always acts together with Mao and Nanoka. He is a character who is very good at taking care of others, often carrying a jar called 'Kodoku no Tsubo' and having Mao drink its liquid." Next, Shimono introduced Hyakka: "Mao's senior apprentice Onmyoji. Although he is smaller than Mao in height and other aspects, he is the senior. He manipulates fire techniques. Like Mao, he has lived for 900 years, and the reason why Hyakka has also lived for 900 years will gradually be revealed in the story, so please look out for that."

Finally, Toyonaga delved into Kamon. "Kamon is also Mao's senior apprentice, but unlike Hyakka, he is an Onmyoji who manipulates wood techniques. Although the chart only shows him as a senior apprentice, this correlation will change rapidly once the broadcast starts, so please look forward to it. It’s not such a simple story!" he emphasized, receiving nods from the other cast members.

Furthermore, advance cuts from Episode 1, which hadn't even been used in PVs, were revealed. When cuts of Mao, Nanoka Kiba, and Otoya were shown on the screen, a stir arose from the audience. The cast also shared their individual impressions, saying things like "Mao's face looks great," "Who is that in front of Nanoka...?" and "Otoya is so cute, isn't he?"

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